Ice skate blade



May 29, 1962 L. I. NORGIEL ICE! SKATE BLADE Filed July 29, 1960 INVENTOR. 4 90 I /V0 7 26/. BY /Amm "2M 1 o/v ws'Ks'.

United States Patent Ofiice Bfidhfifll Patented May 29, 1962 3,036,840ICE SKATE BLADE Leo I. Norgiel, 7621 W. Morrow Circle, Dearborn, Mich.Filed July 20, 196i], Ser. No. 44,048 1 Claim. (Cl. 280--1l.18)

The present invention broadly pertains to ice skate blades, and moreparticularly, to an improved ice skate blade configuration of the figureskating type that improves the balance of the skater and facilitates theexecution of artistic maneuvers on ice.

In modern figure skating, the skater maneuvers through an artisticseries of arcuate and spiral patterns in a forward as well as a backwardskating position. During these artistic maneuvers, different segments ofthe blade edges of the skates are employed to cut into and engage theice maintaining the skaters balance and equilibrium and enabling theexecution of the curved patterns of varying radius. For example, duringnormal skating or skating in relatively large radius curves, the skatersweight is usually concentrated at a point slightly forward of themidpoint of the blade and the blade edges adjacent to this point areprimarily utilized to engage the ice.

' During forward skating through arcuate figures of a relatively smallradius, the blade edges along the rearward portion of the blade areprimarily utilized to contact the .ice whereas the forward edge portionsof the blade are primarily employed during the execution of relativelysharp radius figures while skating in a backward position. The sharperthe curvature of the figures executed, the closer towards the ends ofthe blade moves the segment along the edges of the blade contacting theice. Conversely, the greater the curvature of the figure executed thecloser toward the point-slightly forward of the midpoint of the blademoves the bearing contact edge.

Figure skate designs heretofore employed have incorporated bladeconfigurations having parallel side edges and having a bottom edge of asubstantially constant curvature. Tapered blades have also been proposedincorporating a straight taper which substantially retains thecharacteristics of the parallel edge skates heretofore mentioned. Theseskate blade configurations frequently cause excessive grinding andscrubbing of the ice during the execution of artistic patterns.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to providean improved ice skate blade for figure skating having compound curvatureedges extending forwardly and rearwardly from a substantially straightcenter portion having a simple arcuate curvature and disposed slightlyforwardly of the midpoint of the blade, and which edges are adapted toprovide the optimum configuration for facilitating the smooth executionof curves of varying radii.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention are achieved byproviding the bottom of the blade with a contour characterized by asimple circular arc section disposed slightly forwardly of the midpointof the blade and which curves upwardly therefrom toward each of the endsof the blade in a smooth parabolic contour of decreasing radius.Additionally, the length of the blade is provided with a symmetricaltapered contour having a thick portion with substantially parallel sidesdisposed adjacent to the simple arc section along the bottom andtapering therefrom toward each of the ends of the blade in a smoothparabolic contour of decreasing radius.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a figure skate blade incorporatingtherein the preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the figure skate blade shown in FIGURE1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the forwardportion of the figure skate blade shown in FIGURE 1, and taken alongline 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-section view through the central portion ofthe figure skate blade shown in FIGURE 1 and taken along line 44thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-section view through the rearward portion ofthe figure skate blade shown in FIG- URE l, and taken along line 55thereof.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the figure skate comprises anelongated blade 6 having a rear support member 8 integrally affixed toand extending upwardly therefrom to the upper end of which a heelmounting plate 19 is rigidly affixed. A central upright support member12 is integrally affixed to and extends upwardly from the blade 6 at apoint slightly forward the midpoint thereof to the upper end of which isaifixed a toe mounting plate 14 and having the forward portion thereofsupported by the upturned forward end or toe of the blade 6. The forwardupturned portion or toe of the blade 6 is provided with a plurality ofserrations or teeth 16 for engaging the ice as the skate blade is rockedonto its toe facilitating stopping and the execution of sharp maneuvers.

The bottom surface 18 of the blade 6 is provided with a simple circulararc section generally designated at 20 which is disposed along the bladeat a point slightly forward the midpoint thereof. The arcuate section 20is adapted to correspond with the portion of the blade utilized duringthe execution of straight or substantially large radius curves. Thebottom surface 18 of the blade tapers upwardly from the arcuate sectionZtl toward the toe and heel portions thereof in a gentle parabolic curvewhich tangentially intersects the ends of the arcuate section 20providing a smooth transition from the simple to the compound curvedsections of the bottom surface 18 of the blade. The nature of theparabolic curvature is such that segments of an infinitesimal lengththereon decrease in radius during movement from the arcuate section 26toward the toe and heel of the blade. The resultant curvature or rock,as it is usually referred to, of the bottom surface 18 of the blade 6,is one which constantly changes along the forward and rearward portionsof the blade separated by the arcuate section 20 which has a constantradius, usually ranging from about 4 to about 10 feet.

In addition to the variable radius rock of the bottom surface of theblade, the side portions 22 of the blade are provided with acorresponding constantly varying curva ture comprising substantiallyfiat sections 24a, 24b which are substantially parallel to each otherand are longitudinally disposed along the blade adjacent to the arcuatesection 2.0 in the bottom surface 18 of the blade. From thesubstantially fiat side sections 24a, 24b, the blade tapers forwardlyand rearwardly in a symmetrical fashion and in a parabolic curvature ofdecreasing radius toward the toe and heel portions of the blade. Thetapered parabolic curvatures of the forward and rear side portions ofthe blade tangentially intersect the substantially fiat side sections24a, 24b forming a continuous smooth transition of curvature which issubstantially infinite at the flat sections 24a, 24b and decreasesrapidly as the toe and heel of the blade are approached.

The variation achieved by the compound curvature of the bottom and sidesurfaces of the blade is illustrated in the crosssections through theforward, middle and rearward portions of the blade as shown in FIGS.3-5, respectively. The bottom surface 18 of the blade 6 is preferablyprovided with a hollow ground concave surface of substantially constantradius which varies in depth along the length of the blade dependentupon the width thereof. The blade edges 26a, 2611 created by theintersection of the bottom surface 18 and the side portions 22 of theblade are of a simple arcuate curvature and substantially parallel toeach other adjacent the arcuate section and flat sections 24a, 24b andtaper therefrom upwardly and in- Wardly toward the longitudinal centeraxis of the blade in a three-dimensional curvature toward the toe andheel of the blade in a continuously decreasing radius.

Since the execution of arcuate and spiral patterns is achieved with theblade tilted, only one of the blade edges 26a, 26b contacts the iceduring artistic maneuvers. As heretofore mentioned, as the radius of thearc of the maneuver decreases the skater, in order to maintain hisequilibrium, causes his Weight to shift forwardly or rearwardly alongthe blade depending on whether he is skating in a forward or backwardposition, and in so doing, utilizes the portion of the blade edges 26a,26b which correspondingly decrease in radius. When the skater performs astraight glide or a relatively large radius curve the blades aresubstantially upright and in which position the parallel portions of theblade edges 26a, 2612 contact the ice providing directional stabilityand enhancing balance. In view of the foregoing it will be apparent thatthe unique compound curvature configuration of the blade edges 26a, 2611provides the optimum configuration of the contacting portion of theblade edge depending on the severity of curvature of the maneuverexecuted. The weight shift of the skater during the execution ofvariable radius maneuvers is automatically compensated for by thevariable radius blade edges 26a, 2619 providing optimum efficiency inthe execution of the artistic maneuvers, and minimizing grinding andscraping of the ice.

The specific skate configuration shown can be varied in width and inlength to adapt it to the size and weight of a particular skater. Thecentral portion of the blade corresponding to the arcuate section 20generally comprises from about 30% to about 50% of the effective lengthof the blade. The forward tapered portion of the blade between thecentral portion and the serrations or teeth 16 can vary within a rangeof from about 20% to about 30% of the effective length of the bladewhile the rearward tapered portion of the blade extending rearwardlyfrom the central portion can range from about 30% to about 40% of theeffective length of the blade. Additionally, the width of the blade atits widest point along the substantially flat parallel side sections24a, 2412 can vary in width to accommodate skaters of varying weight.The tapered toe and heel portions of the blade taper to a width rangingfrom about 70% to about 90% of the maximum width of the blade. Thelength of the blade can similarly vary in accordance with the size ofthe skater retaining the blade proportions hereinabove set forth.

The novel blade configuration herein shown and described may bemanufactured of the conventional high carbon steels and preferably iscomprised of a chromium steel containing from about 16% to about 18%chromium, from about .95% to about 1.20% carbon, up to about .75molybdenum in addition to small quantities of the conventionalimpurities. Ice skate blades manufactured of the chromium steel havebeen found to be particularly satisfactory in providing superior glidecharacteristics, in retaining extremely sharp edges, and in providing ahigh luster without the necessity of electrodeposition of a metalliccoating thereover such as chromium. This latter factor is particularlyadvantageous since conventional ice skates produced from ordinary steelsWill corrode at the bottom surface of the blade which is devoid of ametallic plating after short use causing a roughing of the surface and adulling of the edges. The chromium steel on the other hand is corrosionresistant and retains a smooth surface and sharp edges over long periodsof use and does not corrode in spite of repeated sharpening. 7

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment hereinillustrated is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, itwill be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification,variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fairmeaning of the subjoined claim.

What is claimed is:

In a figure skate, the combination comprising an elongated tapered bladehaving a bottom surface and tapered side surfaces that form at theirintersection a pair of arcuate blade edges, said blade including a toe,a heel, and an intermediate portion disposed forwardly of the midpointof said blade and constituting the widest portion thereof, said bladeedges along said intermediate portion disposed substantially parallel toeach other and generated by the intersection of substantially straightsections of said side surfaces with a circular arc section of saidbottom surface, said side surfaces extending tangentially from saidstraight sections in parabolic curvature of decreasing radius towardsaid toe and said heel of said blade, said bottom surface extendingtangentially from said simple circular arc section in paraboliccurvature of decreasing radius toward said toe and said heel of saidblade, said intermediate portion comprising from about 30% to about ofthe effective length of the blade, and said toe and said heel of saidblade having a width ranging from about to about of the width of saidintermediate portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,181,831 Browne May 2, 1916 FOREIGN PATENTS 590,356 Germany Jan. 2,1934 659,340 Germany May 2, 1938 514,214 Great Britain Nov. 2, 1939

